Kirtan and International Peace

In celebration of the laying of the foundation stone of the new Hyderabad Math, His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Dayita Madhava Gosvami Maharaja addressed a special religious convention that was held at Balaji Bhavana in Hyderabad from August 5 through 7, 1961. Below is an excerpt from one of Hislectures. A full account of this historic event is in a book on the Holy Life of Srila Bhakti Dayita Madhava Gosvami, written by his devoted disciple, His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaja.

"The nations of the world, irrespective of race and religion, can only be truly united in love and harmony by following the path of prema-bhakti (love of God) as laid down by Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Love (prema) is even greater than the concept of non-violence (ahimsa). To 'not harm others' is a negative; that is to say, it means to refrain from doing something rather than doing it. On the other hand, love or prema is a positive action; it is the effort to do good towards others. In reality, all talk about non-violence is in fact quite superficial, for in this life none can exist without harming another. True non-violence is possible only when the self is totally surrendered to doing that which is for the welfare of all living creatures. Since we are all infinitesimal parts of the One Supreme Entity, our true happiness lies in union, in the completion of the incomplete. If you water the roots of a tree, all the branches and leaves are automatically nourished. If you eat via the mouth and stomach, your whole body is nourished. Analogously, if you serve and please Sri Hari, everyone will become satisfied, for all are in Him and He is in all. Knowledge of Him is non-dualistic, for He is the One Omniscient and Eternal Reality.

Pure love, or prema-bhakti, is focused upon the indivisible Personality of the Supreme Lord, Who is One without a second, Bhagavan Sri Krsna. If an individual does not perceive that the totality and oneness of God is the very center of his existence, then it is inevitable that love for the body, family, society, province and country will clash with the body, family, society, province and country of others. An example to help visualize the preceding statement can be given as follows. If one draws many circles with their centers at different points on a page, then depending upon their proximity to one another, there is the possibility that their circumferences might cross and overlap. In this manner, if there are many self-centered sentient beings in the universe, then conflict becomes inevitable. If, on the other hand, the supremacy of that One Center (God) is recognized by all, leaving no room for a second, then the question of contradiction does not arise. If one loves the Whole, then one simultaneously loves all the parts of that Whole.

tasmistuste jagat tustam prinite prinitam jagat

However, that love which is not directed toward God should be understood to be only lust. This is the underlying cause of jealousy and violence of all kinds, including war. According to Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Bhagavan Sri Krsna is at the center, and all created things radiate out as parts and parcels of The One Supreme Energy. At this deep level, all superficial differences are shorn away. All living entities are unified in the sense that they are eternally existing, individual servitors of the One Supreme Lord. Sri Krsna Himself, by His unparalleled grace and exquisite beauty attracts each individual to Him. Even His own avataras (incarnations) are drawn to Him and thus, Sri Krsna epitomizes the very concept of love. By loving Sri Krsna, the lotus flower of pure love will spontaneously blossom in the hearts of all creatures, and the path to that pure love for Sri Krsna in the present era of the Kali-yuga is nama-sankirtana, constant chanting of the Holy Names of the Lord. Since all living beings have a right to His Name, then nama-sankirtana will be the thread to bring the different nations into a oneness of prema, love for God."

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